Bias Resource Team: Support from BRT

Relevant Excerpt

Equity and inclusion are critical for University community members to thrive. Consistent with our foundational values, the University of Rhode Island (URI) will continue to foster an inclusive, accessible, equitable, and diverse community. At URI, we balance our individual right to free expression with our collective responsibility, as expressed in our foundational values, to respect the rights and dignity of all, as well as self- and institutional reflection of our values in our work, scholarship and interactions, holding ourselves, each other, and the institution accountable to uphold them to a high standard.

In furtherance of its foundational values and its commitment to maintaining a learning and working environment free of discrimination and harassment, URI strives to help community members identify, interrupt, effectively address, and, where possible, prevent bias incidents. Every bias incident may not rise to the level of discrimination or harassment. Bias incidents can, however, lead to unfair treatment, resulting in experiences of exclusion and decreased engagement, negatively impacting URI’s strategic vision of fostering an inclusive, people-centered culture.

Community members who have experienced or witnessed bias incidents are encouraged to report them to the Bias Resource Team (BRT), an interdisciplinary group comprised of URI staff and faculty. The BRT reviews information about reported bias incidents, connects those who have witnessed or experienced an act of bias to relevant University resources, and shares information with appropriate departments charged with addressing concerns consistent with the University’s mission, strategic vision, and foundational values. The BRT also tracks trends in order to assess progress toward our strategic priorities and to inform community education and awareness initiatives. The Bias Resource Team is neither a disciplinary nor an investigatory body. The BRT does not, for example, adjudicate personnel matters, student conduct code violations, civil rights complaints, or issues of state or federal law.

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The Bias Resource Team (BRT) cares deeply about the safety and well-being of all campus community members. Although it is not a punitive body and does not adjudicate cases, the BRT takes all reported incidents seriously. When you report a bias incident, you can expect:

• Respectful listening
• A timely response
• Review of options for next steps
• Referrals to appropriate campus resources
• Follow-up communication